COUNTDOWN QUEEN

When you first started doing Ooh La La did you think it would be a show that might bring you an award?
In the beginning, no, I didn’t think so. But as we progressed the show became better and better. The initial episodes were very different to what we are doing now. The concept was different. There was one main character running through several episodes. Now we have individual episodes and lots of different characters which makes it all the more interesting, more watchable.

How did you land the show?
Well, Shrey Guleri contacted me. At the time I had just finished wrapping up Philips Top Ten, and I wasn’t doing any other TV show. He warned me that Ooh La La wouldn’t be a straightforward countdown show, it would have a variety of characters. I told him I would love to do the show.

What’s the best thing about anchoring Ooh La La?
It doesn’t get boring because I have to act out all those various characters. The other countdown shows I’ve done were more straightforward and tended to get a bit boring after a while. After all, how different can you be every time?

Which was your favourite character on Ooh La La?
The Chinese cook!

Because you brought your Hong Kong experience to it?
(Laughs) Yeah! It was easy, I did my own thing!

Do you have a lot of interaction with your writers?
Do you make suggestions on the sets?
No, we have a bound script, most of the time. If I feel that a joke is not all that funny, or that a couple of lines aren’t working, then we reach a mutual decision. Of course, I do get asked about how comfortable I would be playing a certain character, for instance.

Are you planning to stick on with the show for a while?
As of now, I’m enjoying it. But I’m sure, a couple of weeks, a couple of months down the line, I might feel differently. I also don’t want the audience to get fed up of me.

How did BPL Oye, your first foray into TV, happen?
Actually, I was just filling in for Anu Agarwal. She was doing the show at the time. The producers told me that they wanted to do a special episode with me. It went off really well, the feedback was tremendous. So they told me they wanted me back on the show. I was, like, “What? Full-time?” And they said, “Yeah, full-time!”

Was moving to TV a big decision?
Did you ever think it might be a one-way ticket from films to TV?
Not at all. I guess, because I enjoyed it. The kind of appreciation I got meant that I was really good at it. So what if it’s television? Anyway by then I had stopped accepting any new film assignments. Considering the kinds of films I was getting, there was no way of thinking of starting off in films again. So those kinds of thoughts didn’t really bother me.

Why have you been doing only countdown shows on TV?
You know, I’ve been offered a lot of serials, talk shows and game shows. Everyday I get a new offer. I haven’t taken on any of these offers because I’m not interested. I do countdown shows because I know for sure that people watch them. The recognition I’ve got from doing Ooh La La is tremendous. And I enjoy doing countdown shows.

Let’s step back a few years —
when was it that you lost interest in doing films, and why?
I never lost interest. I was doing pretty well. And because of some stupid reason I started refusing good films. And it wasn’t because I lost interest. I did lose interest later when I started getting only rubbish offers. I began to feel demoralised — which is bound to happen, I’m only human. Now if you ask me, whether I would want to try and make a comeback, I would say no. It would be too difficult, especially with the kind of competition there is now. I wouldn’t be able to do the kinds of things these new girls are doing! It’s not me at all.

What about it is “not you”?
Exposing... for which you have to shed all your inhibitions. Which I can’t do. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it, but it’s just not me.

Were you ever pressurised into exposing during your film career?
At times, yes. Sometimes I’ve been pushed up against the wall and told, “You have to expose.” My response was always a firm, “No, I don’t have to do it. You knew what you were getting into when you signed me, and I’m not going to do it, no matter who you are.”

This attitude could have been a major drawback to my career, but honestly, I care a damn. My self-respect and reputation is more important. And eventually these kinds of pressures would last only for 2 or 3 days during which time the producer and the director would be really upset with me. When I joined films, I admit I did wear skimpy shorts and swimsuits, but I was so young that I felt very comfortable in them. But as I grew older I wasn’t comfortable anymore.

Was another drawback to your career
that you were too choosy about your roles?
On the contrary, I wish I had been more choosy. Sure, I did refuse a lot of films, but there was a stage when I was signing all the wrong films. I guess, everybody goes through such a stage, where you’re not thinking, you just sign whatever comes your way. That backfired and hampered my career to a certain extent.

With hindsight, why do you think you signed so many wrong films?
Was it insecurity or just bad judgement?
Bad judgement. You think that there are plenty of big stars in a particular film, so you can’t possibly go wrong. And it was the trend at the time to make multi-starrers.

Do you have any films on hand at the moment?
There are two old projects. (Giggles nervously) One is four years old and the other is seven years old! One is with Sunny and Chunky, Patthar Aur Payal, directed by Shibu Mitra, and the other is with Kamal Sadanah, Mohabbat Aur Jung. Then of course, there’s Sooraj Barjatya’s film. But I can’t discuss that. All I can say is, it’s a good role.

So you are open to exceptional film offers?
Definitely. And as far as Sooraj’s film is concerned, I couldn’t have asked for better! Sooraj is a wonderful person, and he was very keen that I did the film. There’s no way I would have refused.

How do you spend your time when you’re not working?
Friends, movies... I also go to the office because I’m starting a jewellery line. It’s my dream to have a signature line of jewellery. I’m not going to have a big launch, but it’ll happen soon, in the next few months.

I’ll be operating from home, I don’t want to have a showroom yet. At one point I had thought of producing software, but then I thought it’s just not me! Ekta Kapoor, who’s a friend of mine and is into producing software, was urging me to get into the line, but I know I can’t do it! It’s such a lot of hard work, and I’m very lazy by nature!

Is it difficult being a single woman, particularly in showbiz?
Not at all. Honestly, in this industry you’re better off being single. Because once you have a boyfriend or a husband, a lot of restrictions come into play — depending on the man, of course. Things like don’t wear this, don’t wear that... it becomes too suffocating.

But as a single woman you’re free to do exactly what you feel like doing. And I’ve been very lucky in that I’ve never had a problem with either producers or directors or even heroes coming on too strong. I suppose it’s because I know where to draw the line. I’m very friendly with everyone, but they all know where I draw the line.

Where do you see yourself five years from now?
I think I’m going to be happily married, probably with one child, and running my jewellery business. And maybe not having much to do with showbiz.